Terminal connecter



Sept 1932- B. o. MERRITT 1,877,142

TERMINAL CONNECTER Filed Feb. 9. 1931 a QIZgQ l. QLg. 5 l3 4' 1 F12 AZ? J0 I 5 3+ W t JL g I 3 I i0 i J5 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES "PATENT oFncE' BERTTIE O. MERRITT, OF SGOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN .1

A. GERMIQUEI, OF EDGEMONT; SOUTH DAKOTA TERMINAL CONN EGTER Application filed February 9, 1931-. Serial No. 514,605.

This invention relates to a terminal connecter for use in connection with storage batteries, switch boxes, and other electrical equipment where a tight but readily removable connection is desired at points where corrosion is likely to occur.

Various devices for connecting parts elec trically have been devised but most of them have been found objectionable because they are afiected by dorrosion, requiring undesirable mutilation of one or more of the parts, and generally necessitating the services of a skilled mechanic in order to disconnect or connect the parts, this being particularly true I? where deposits have been formed as a result of chemical corrosion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecter which" is formed of few parts and can be applied to or removed from a battery post or other terminal simply by striking thereagainst with a hammer so as to properly connect or disconnect the parts.

Another object is to provide a connecter which will not mutilate any of the terminal elements as a result of the application or disconnection of the connecter.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description.

proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made. within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing the pre ferred form of the invention has been shown. In said drawing, V Figure 1 is a plan view showing the connecter applied to a post of a battery.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1, the post in elevation.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view similar'to Figure 1 showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates the head of-the-connecter which is formed with a longitudinal slot 2 theend walls of which are substantiallysemi-circular in cross-section and diverge downwardly. To the head is connected a conductor 3 which can be fastened to one side of the head as shown at 4 in Figure l or, if

preferred and as shown at 5 in Figure 4, it

can be attached to one end of the head.

' One end of the slot is intersected by a tapered transverse slot 6 which registers with a similar slot 7 formed in the rounded or convex end 8 of a jaw 9. The other end of this jaw is concave as shown at 10. "A key 11, which is wedge shaped, is insertable longitudinally into the slots 6 and 7 andcan be held against removal by means of a cotter pin 12 or the like seated in the small endportion thereof.

. A terminal hasbeen indicated atT and can comprise a post of a storage battery or any other portion of electrical equipment to which the. conductor 3 is to be connected electrically. This terminal T is tapered as shown particularly in Figure2 and one end wall of slot 2 as well as the concave end of jaw 9 is tapered to fit snugly upon this tapered terminal as shown particularly in F igure 2.

After the terminal has been inserted between these tapered walls of the slot and jaw the key 11 is inserted into the matching slots 6 and 7 By then tapping on the large end of the key so as to drive the key tightly into the slots the aw will be forced against-terminal T so as to grip it tightly against the end wall of slot 2. Consequently a tight electrical contact will beformed between these parts.

7 Should it be desired to release the connecter from the terminal it would be necessary "merely to tap upon the small end of key 11 so as to loosen jaw 9. If necessary the flat end of the head can then bestruck lightly with a hammer to shift it slightly in alon- ,gitudinal direction and break its connection ment of the key 11 in one direction so that when the connecter is loosened there is no danger of .this key becoming separated and lost. The key is also retained in slot 7 so as to maintain the jaw 9 in slot 2 even after the terminal T has been withdrawn. It will be apparent that by using a connecter such as described the terminal will not be mutilated by the application or removal of the connecter, this being due primarily to the fact that the tightening element, which is the key ll, does not engage the terminal but said termin-al is gripped solely between the end walls of. the slot 2 and the concave end of jaw 9. The parts 4 and 5 to which the conductors 3 are connected are preferably sleeves formed integral with the head 1 and having openings 13 through which metal may be poured for the purpose of joining the ends of theconductors to the sleeves.

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal connecter including a head having a terminal receiving slot one end wall of which is shaped to embrace and fit snugly against a terminal, a jaw slidable in the slot and having a recessed end for embracing and fitting snugly upon a terminal, there being registering transverse slots in the head and jaw, and a wedge adjustably seated in the transverse slots for holding the jaw in the head when released from the terminal and adjusting said into gripping engagement with the terminal, said head having an impact receiving end.

2. A. connecter including a slotted head, a jaw slidable in the slot, said jaw and one wall of the slot cooperating to embrace and fit snugly upon opposed portions of a terminal extending into the slot, a wedge extending transversely of and slidably engaging the head and jaw tor holding the jaw assembled with the head and for adjusting the aw into clamping engagement with the terminal, and

means for holding the wedge against withdrawal from the head, both ends of the wedge being extended outwardly from the head.

3. A connecter including a slotted head, conductor receiving sleeves integral therewith and having apertures for the reception of molten metal, a jaw slidable in the slot, said jaw and one wall of the slot cooperating to embrace and fit snugly upon opposed por tions of a terminal extending into the slot,

a wedge extending transversely of and slid ably engaging the head and jaw for holding the jaw assembled with the head and for adjusting the aw into clamping engagement with the terminal, and means for holding the wedge against withdrawal from the head,

both ends of the wedge being extended out wardly from the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature. BERTTIE O. MERRITT. 

